8 Tips for Putting Together a Vegan Kids Lunchbox
Packing a nutritious and delicious vegan lunchbox for your child can be both fun and rewarding. Whether you are new to veganism or a seasoned pro, here are some tips to help you create a balanced and appealing lunchbox that your kids will love.
1. Balance the Nutrients
Ensuring that your child’s vegan lunchbox contains a balanced mix of nutrients is crucial in ensuring they hit their daily targets, as well as keeping a nice balance. Look to create a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, healthy fats, and a variety of vitamins and minerals.
While your child’s vegan lunchbox shouldn’t be seen as a reflection to hit all daily targets, keeping a new balance of nutrients ensures that your child is satisfied throughout the day.
2. Keep It Fun and Colourful
Children are well and truly visual.
Children are more likely to eat their lunch if it looks appealing. Use a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables to make the lunchbox visually attractive. You can also use fun shapes and buy yourself a variety of sandwich cutters to make sandwiches, fruits, and veggies more interesting.
If you need some ideas on how to make your child’s vegan lunchbox more appealing, be sure to check out my FREE Ebook on 10 Vegan Kid Lunch Box Ideas by clicking the bottom below.
This free resource shows you a bunch of variety, simple vegan recipes to implement into your routine, and may just be the free resource to assist in adding some new ideas to your vegan lunch box routine!
3. Include Kid-Friendly Protein Sources
Make sure to include protein sources that are both nutritious and appealing to kids:
Chickpea Tuna Salad Sandwich: Mashed chickpeas with vegan mayo, hummus and a handful of other ingredients is a fantastic protein-rich inclusion. Chickpea tuna can be implemented into a sandwich or served by itself.
Tofu Bites: Baked or air-fried tofu bites pieces are a nutritional powerhouse, and are full of protein. Flavours for these can be quite versatile too to suit your vegan child’s perferences.
Hummus and Veggies: A container of hummus with carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and capsicum strips for dipping.
4. Think About Convenience
Kids appreciate convenience, especially during lunchtime at school. In Australia at least, times for eating are quite minimal at school, so ensuring that you pack items that are easy to eat and don’t require a lot of preparation are key to making sure your vegan children eat well during the day. Try these simple ideas:
Fruit Skewers: Grapes, berries, and melon pieces on a fruit skewer set.
Wraps and Roll-Ups: Whole wheat tortillas filled with hummus, avocado, and veggies, rolled up and sliced into bite-sized pieces.
Energy Balls: Homemade or store-bought energy balls made with oats, nuts, and dried fruits.
5. Pack a Variety of Fruits and Vegetables
There’s an alarming statistic in Australia, where 94% of Australians aren’t eating enough fruit or vegetables according to recent studies, with hitting daily vegetable recommendations well under in comparison to fruits.
It’s important for all children to ensure they are eating a variety of fruit and vegetables, and it’s even a requirement in most Australian schools that children have a morning fruit break to ensure they are eating at least one serve of fruit per day.
Ensure that the lunchbox includes a variety of fruits and vegetables to provide essential nutrients and antioxidants:
Fruit Medley: A mix of seasonal fruits like apples, berries, and oranges.
Veggie Sticks: Carrot, celery, and capsicum sticks with a small container of hummus or guacamole.
6. Get the Kids Involved
Let your kids help with the preparation of their lunchboxes. They can choose their favourite fruits, veggies, and snacks. This not only makes them more likely to eat their lunch but also teaches them about healthy eating habits.
7. Stay Organised with Containers
Use compartmentalised lunchboxes to keep different foods separate and fresh. This also helps in portion control and makes the lunchbox look neat and organised.
8. Plan Ahead
Preparation is key to a stress-free morning. Plan and prepare lunchbox components the night before or even at the start of the week. Having a weekly menu can simplify the process and ensure a variety of meals throughout the week.
If you’ve been struggling for vegan kids lunch box ideas, then my helpful
7 weeks of Vegan Kids Lunch Boxes spreadsheet will act as a great starting point to create a streamlined and prepared lunch box routine.
This resource has 7 weeks of lunchbox ideas (35 in total), recipe links, shopping guides and helpful tips on preparing vegan lunchboxes. Find it at the below link
By following these tips, you can create nutritious, appealing, and convenient vegan lunchboxes that will keep your kids happy and healthy. Remember, the goal is to make lunchtime fun and enjoyable while providing the essential nutrients for your child's growth and development.
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